The Chosen One

Chapter 2: Flora

This was not the way I wanted to go.

I gasped as the reality of my situation dawned on me. I had hit my head and instinctively, I reached for it, only to notice the bright light all around me.

Curious, I turned around, noticing the bright expanse of white light that engulfed the entire landscape. And not a single being in sight.

“Where am I?” My voice echoed, bouncing left and right until it faded away.

“OOhh.” Someone groaned loudly. “Not this again. Where else do you think you are? You died!”

The voice was coming from everywhere. I tried to track it, turning round and round with narrowed eyes until a slender giant appeared, watching me with bored eyes and a ticking golden clock behind him.

He was white, from head to toe except for the occasional shimmer of golden energy. Energy which seemed to move the second hand of the clock.

“I-I k-know.” I stammered in the face of his overwhelming presence.

“Oh, come off it, Chronos.” A singsong voice echoed.

Just then, a human-sized lady appeared before the scowling Chronos.

Like him, she was pale and white but her countenance was welcoming. Her lips parted to reveal a warm smile as the halo of stars above her head shimmered.

She was beautiful.

Yet every now and then cracks spread out on her face. Only vanishing when she smoothed her face with both hands, wincing in the effort.

“Of course, you’d defend them, moon goddess. They ask this stupid question every time–it's old and annoying, Lunaria.” Chronos hissed.

Lunaria shrugged. “It's fine. He has a… short temper. And this is the Realm Between.”

Then her eyes narrowed as I felt her gaze on the moon pendant on my neck. “Wait… you're not supposed to be here.”

Her voice boomed louder, with authority and commanding presence. “You are not supposed to be here.”

Hearing her, those words, my legs quivered and I fell to my butt. My eyes were flooded with warm hot tears, as the last events before my death came rushing to me.

I was not supposed to be here.

Just like before when my father took me away.

All because I was not supposed to be there.

The watering of my eyes blurred my vision as I hyperventilated. “I-it's not fair.” I yelled out broken and frustrated.

I watched my pack get destroyed before my eyes. As I sobbed, it came rushing to me– the easy wins, the gentle treatment. It was all because I was different.

All because I did not have a wolf.

“H-hey…” The silvery lady moved to me.

Her hand rested on my shoulder but the warmness of her touch only mocked me, reminding me of all the times I was shielded, protected– my incompetence.

If only I had a wolf…

“If only I had a wolf…” I screamed out my frustration. “Then I would not die like that. You never completed me. You never gave me enough a-and… I'm not supposed to be here?”

Lunaria winced, a flicker of guilt in her eyes.

The cracks appeared and she smoothed them out with her fingers. While Chronos shrunk down, folding his arms over his chest, watching.

I yelled again. “Then where am I supposed to be?”

“Alive. You're supposed to be alive.” Lunaria squatted down to my level, cupping my face with a sad smile. “Say what you want and I will make this right for you.”

My breath caught in my throat, and I frowned at her words. “What?”

“I mean it.” Lunaria said softly. “Your anger, your grief, reminds me of someone I once cared for. You have so much more potential than you know.”

I shook my head ruefully. “I am already dead. No need to patronize me.”

“I know. That’s why you can't be here.”

“Lunaria.” Chronos echoed out. “The passage of time cannot be altered.”

Thunder rumbled as the realm turned stormy and chaotic. Lunaria rose to meet his glare, eyes fierce. “I have to do this, Chronos, she has to live.”

“You’re desperate.” Chronos spat out. “Her time is concluded.”

She turned to me with eyes wide. “Say it, Flora. Wish it now.”

The storm intensified– the rapid thundering disorienting me. Each thunderclap made my head throb with so much pain until I yelled out my wish.

“I want to live. I want a second chance.” I screamed, taking deep heavy breaths.

The storm quieted and silence fell.

Lunaria laughed victoriously while Chronos glared disapprovingly. “You risk everything for a hopeless cause.” he said with a low voice.

“Hear me well.” Lunaria said.

“Don’t do it.” Chronos yelled.

“As the moon holds power over tides, cycles and of night I decree that the rite of passage be reversed for the child of vengeance.

Lightning crackled and swirling winds engulfed her.

As the light faded, I glimpsed a sick looking Lunaria slumping to the ground, a shadow of her former self. While a sad Chronos threw himself at the fierce winds around her.

“I-is she.. Is she dying…” was what I wanted to ask but the question did not leave my lips.

Instead, a revolting force grabbed me and everything became a blur suddenly.. I struggled but it was strong, dragging me through a haze of stars and clouds until it stopped abruptly.

And I was back, and alive in freezing waters.

Immediately I realized this, my lungs burned for lack of oxygen. I gasped, gulping in water, heart racing in a state of survival. But I was deep under– the pressure of the sea compressing me.

Panic stricken, I beat my arms around in my desperation. My chest tightened as my limbs felt sluggish and the need to breathe clawed at me. Just then, I noticed the glowing pendant shifting up.

I kicked with everything I had, each limb movement a struggle for me. But I was running out of time, so I pushed again with all of myself. My body screamed for air and fatigue as I pushed.

Until I broke the surface.

I gasped, gulping at the air greedily. Then I coughed, the sting of the saltwater in my eyes, blurring my vision. However, the faint sight of a shoreline ahead fueled me.

Up until I crawled out of the water, wheezing and gasping. The roar of the sea was behind me but the exhaustion of my struggle trumped as I collapsed into the wet sands.